Today's Opinions

he athletes, by the thousands, gathered together Friday.
From some 200 countries they came together in London for the 2012 Olympics. The flags were raised, the flame was lit; Paul McCartney sang.
And then the games began.
The scene that played out in women’s gymnastics Sunday displayed both the magic and the heartache of the games that will follow the next two weeks.

Earlier last week we received an invitation from Senator Mark Warner’s office to meet him at The Olde Liberty Station Restaurant, in Bedford on Saturday July 21.
It is not often that a sitting US Senator, not running for re-election or seeking to raise funds, visits our area to inform his constituents on what is going on in Washington D.C. However, I could imagine that Senator Mark Warner will think twice before considering coming by again.

As I travel across the 5th District, I talk with small business owners who have sustained our local communities for generations. From Pittsylvania to Greene County, and everywhere in between, I have been inspired by the stories of so many who have built their small businesses and family farms from the ground up.

A recent study reported in Investor’s Business Daily revealed startling news. After measuring countries by the number of regulations they have, “it is now easier to start a business in Slovenia, Estonia and Hungary than in America.” This affects our ability to encourage investment and job creation in our country.

The massive June 29 storm that tore across Virginia undoubtedly affected you or someone close to you. Nearly everyone can point to individual stories about the storm, but taken in totality, this storm was without a doubt more damaging than any weather event we have ever experienced at Appalachian Power.

Do you remember the phrase “obscene wealth?” No one uses it much anymore, but it definitely comes to mind when you contemplate the vast riches of Willard Mitt Romney.
Just how much is the Republican presidential nominee worth? We don’t know, partly because he’s playing hide and seek with most of his recent tax returns. I wonder if Romney even knows himself the dollar value of just how much money, property and assets he owns.